39. No Cuddles? #2
“Reaper, isn’t the rule no sitting on the furniture?
You know you’ll leave burn— Oh. Ha. Never mind.
” I stand behind him and give him some long-deserved pats on the head as he singes the fabric.
Satisfied with his destruction, I grab his leash and almost pick him up off the sofa when I hear it: familiar voices.
The TV is still broadcasting the Gauntlet, and there, front and center, is Rez’s shield.
It looks different, but it’s surrounding everyone while the Pucanucks close in on them.
It takes a moment for it to click, but horror hits me.
Emer was right, watching it completely takes you out of the game, and it’s easy to separate yourself from the horror that’s going on inside of it.
I’ve studied the fae extensively, and this was going to be my shining moment with the group, yet I’m not with them. Fuck. Instead, I’m here hamming it up with Emer of all fucking people. Ryker might be part Fae, but he’s never been interested in the side that disowned their own son and grandson.
I quickly study the surrounding area as best I can to help narrow down where my family is. I know we’re in the summer realm, for sure. Emer is a princess and all, but she would not be allowed to simply hide out in another realm where the Gauntlet is not being run in. Hence, this castle.
As the camera pans out and focuses on more pucas in the trees, I get my first real clue. The trees. They are white and black hawthorne that grow on the Western side of the realm up along the Silvermist River.
Shit. If pucas surround them, it’s only a matter of time before they will attract the Capradilla.
Knowing Rez, she’ll want to pet and adopt the damn thing, not knowing it’s a carnivore, and that’s how it attracts its prey.
The ache in my chest from thinking her name is minuscule compared to what it once was, and I smile slightly at the sensation.
I wish I could still feel that initial hit of magic from Earth.
That light, crisp, and warm energy that flowed into me is dangerous.
It can easily become as addictive as a drug, and I understand where someone without restraint could lose control of themselves and effortlessly become corrupt.
Reaper whines then growls, pulling my attention back to the TV where the pucas slam against Rez’s shield, and I find myself twitching to send a spell to help.
I want to help, to be there with them, not placating a spoiled princess, but I need to purge myself of this rot first.
“Come on, Reaper. Let’s go. We need to get back to our family,” I say, picking him up before turning around to be met with two guards.
“Princess Emer is waiting,” the first guard says to me, holding his hand out to the door like a guide.
The other guard is holding a dampening cuff, and I look him in the eyes. “That won’t be necessary.” He nods and puts it away, but keeps his eyes on me.
I hug Reaper close to me, soaking in his warmth as I walk down the stairs, releasing another ball of poison from me. Now that I know what to do, it’s as easy to do as casting spells for Lilith’s clothing line. I could probably do this in my sleep. The problem is knowing what Earth will accept.
“Stay close to me, we might only have a second,” I whisper to Reaper before setting him down.
Reaper barks and circles me, almost causing me to trip over his long tail and leash, but it compels the guards to back up as Emer walks up to us.
“Leviathan. There you are.” Her smile drops slightly as she takes in Reaper. “And with your pet.”
“Yes, believe me. You want him to use the restroom outside. You don’t want his acid to eat away that beautiful castle, do you?” I smile at her as her eyes go wide.
“Of course not.” She gives me a polite smile as she takes my arm.
I allow her, even though now, I no longer have the urge to pull her into me, where she will be close.
Since the effects of the potion are reversible and the rot is slowly leaving me, I’m able to feel the difference between what’s real and what’s been manipulated by that curse.
I would rather not take her arm, but I still have to play the part if I want to get Reaper and me out of here.
One of the guards opens the door for us, and we walk outdoors while Emer starts prattling off facts about her castle.
Ignoring her as I nod along, I take note of our surroundings, guards, magic users, or any staff that’s close by.
I would have no problem overpowering Emer and getting away, but it’s the people around her that I might need help with.
It’s a good thing I have a chaos helper with me. As we turn around the corner, I pull a little bigger ball than what Famine advised, but I’m in a hurry, and I plant that into a flower bed that we pass, and almost let out an audible sigh as Earth sends me another blast of her pure energy as we pass.
Reaper whimpers, and I look over my shoulder to see a blackened footprint in the grass from where I previously stepped.
Oh, I see. Sorry, that was too much, Mother Earth.
Got ya. This balance shit really does suck, but I do understand this is a partnership.
How about smaller doses but multiple times? Will that work?
“Levi, are you even listening to me?” Emer pouts.
“Of course,” I say confidently and pull on my recording spell for the question before this one.
“Then what did I just ask?” She throws me a scolding look.
“You asked if I wanted to go to the maze or the Orchid garden,” I say flatly, giving her a bland look, and her eyes widen.
“Ah… Why, yes, I did,” she stumbles for a moment before continuing. “Which would you prefer?”
Considering my options, I nod to the maze.
“Let's go to the maze. I think that promises more privacy for us,” I tell her, and her eyes brighten at the prospect. We take off towards the maze, and as we go, I pinch off the ichor of my sore and exchange it into the Earth for fresh magic.
I understand now what Famine was referring to earlier about my stamina.
Even though I’m getting those adrenaline hits when I exchange the rot inside me with pure magic, it’s not replenishing my energy levels.
So, the only drawback is how quickly I’ll tire from the process, but at least I’m not blackening the Earth or draining her of magic.
The balance is being kept, and that’s the point I need to keep.
I will just need to push through the fatigue to move past this as quickly as possible.
There has to be another way to purge myself of this, though.
“I know how much the Earth means to Mages, so I wanted to create a safe place for us to hide away.” Emer breaks through my thoughts.
“Us?”
“Of course.” Emer giggles, and it's like scratches on a chalkboard.
“We don’t look at Earth the same way, Emer. You are more into the superficial qualifications of the world,” I point out.
“That might be,” Emer pouts, but she quickly shakes it off. “We still have stuff in common,” she insists, and my hip burns slightly as a mental image appears for me.
The golden scales appear before me, and I find them completely tipping to one side, weighing, judging Emers' soul. It’s not telling me anything I don’t know, but it does show me different ways of judgment if I choose to act on some, and relief fills me as one thought takes hold.
The old Levi, the one before Nerezza, would have scoffed at all of this.
He wouldn’t even believe he’s standing in the middle of a maze at Thornbark Castle during the Gauntlet, let alone holding hands with Emer.
But I’ve been reborn, and I’m ready to fight with all my heart and soul to be with who I love and get what I deserve.
A lesser man might be willing to accept his fate, but I’m not a lesser man, I’m fucking Famine, and this bitch has fucked with me for the last time.
“You’re right, Emer,” I say, moving in closer to her and pulling on Reaper's leash to make sure he comes closer. “We have one of the most important things in common,” I tell her as I hear her guards move behind me. She waves them back as I raise my hand to cup her cheek. I knew we weren’t completely alone.
I softly smile down at her as my thumb rubs her skin, and I watch her melt into my palm.
“Really?” she whispers.
“Yes.” I allow my breath to whisper over her skin as I lean in and she closes her eyes for the kiss. “We will do anything for our family.” My thumb crosses over her lips a second before I pour all of the ichor from my chest into my hand and out into her face, blackening the area I’m touching.
She screams as she tries to rip away from my palm, but it’s just what I needed.
“My lady!” one of the guards yells. They run to Emer, and I grab Reaper and quickly whisper a teleportation spell right as one of the guards remembers me.
The potion will no longer work now that it’s on Emer, but the rot will be there. Getting rid of it will now be her problem. She can keep it and return it to the Earth once her body turns to dust for all I care; I’m free.
“Get him,” another guard yells as they turn to me with a dampening cuff in their hand.
I salute him as I blink out of sight.